DCS A-10C Targeting Pod (TGP) Overview

[@docj7893]

This is a very Good Tutorial, and thank you for taking the time to do it.

[@Teriander]

Im surprised you didn't cover the different TV options, such as Black Hot, and White Hot. Though you did mention what CCD was for in the upper right corner, you never showed the benefit of changing this mode and the level of contrast. It's often quite difficult to identify targets from ground and changing TV modes could help.

[@errol6788]

Wow.....new to all of this....newbie to flight sim period, still deciding if I have the time to dedicate to such a hobby. Watched a ton of videos.....I just subbed to your channel.

[@docj7893]

It is well worth it. I enjoy the challenge, just take it one step at a time. Also, DCS is free, so the only thing you are spending is your time.

[@figjam5181]

Hi, Liked your video. Will be reviewing the TGP when I fly then move on to the Maverick functionality then hopefully be proficient in Mav. weapon usage. Cheers

[@Tiber234]

Hi - Can you tell me how you change the TGP view modes (black/white hot) using the keyboard commands. Thanks

[@TheBranderCZ]

+H. Lightsphere Hi, if you are still wondering how to do it, i managed to find it out (took me like 5 hours :D) ... you can switch the modes with RAlt+arrow keys, you can change it in settings under A-10C Sim - HOTAS (Hotas Boat switch ....)

[@Tiber234]

+TheBranderCZ Hi Brander - Thanks, that's useful info - took a break from DCS doing P3D, I'll be back on it now I've loaded 1.5 so that's good to know

[@TheD4VR0S]

Can someone help, I follow the video but get NO TRACK LAUNCH IHBT and cant fire the maverick

[@Kmbtkrl]

Make sure your flaps aren't down when trying to fire. Although I think you get a FLAPS warning for that. Are you making sure to TMS-up after you get the target in the MAV screen? China hat will get your sensors pointed at the target, but after that you have to make sure the MAV screen is SOI and press TMS up to actually lock the Maverick seeker head. Depending on the model, it might take a couple of tries to get it to lock. You'll know it's locked when the cross hairs 'pinch' down on the target and start to wobble and shake.

[@TheD4VR0S]

@@Kmbtkrl Thanks for answering it wasnt flaps, the only way i could fire was making the mav soi and targeting the targeting the target with the mav seeker so i had to lock the target twice once with the diamond in the hud and then with the circle in the hud could not fire when the pod was soi

[@Kmbtkrl]

@@TheD4VR0S yeah it's different for each sensor. Of you're using the HUD, the diamond is just where the tgp is looking. The little wagon wheel circle/cross is where the Maverick seeker head is looking.

[@arnokruiver]

Finally one thats understandible. Thanks

[@figjam5181]

Hi there........ not sure if you're still monitoring your KZbin messages but I had a question for you. How long did it take for you to learn this level of detail?

[@Kmbtkrl]

Sorry about the late reply, just saw this comment. If I remember right, probably about 40ish hours in the A-10, give or take 10 hours. I had dabbled with DCS for a while but never got past the startup stuff and simple instant action stuff and shooting the gun. One day I got a bug to 'just do it' (probably from watching A-10 gun-run videos or being mad at the flight models in Arma) and sat down an went through all the in-game tutorials. Finally started getting the grasp of the thing, but was still far away from 'proficient'. After a while, maybe 10-20 hours of gameplay, probably a little more....started wrapping my head around it and feeling comfortable. I mentioned it in one of my videos... there was a point I reached where I felt 'in tune' with working the jet. It was about the time that I started understanding the 'why' of what things were doing - like how all the systems fit together and interacted with each other - I went from just pushing buttons because I was told to, to pushing the buttons I needed to, because I understood what I was trying to get the jet to do. It was then I started realizing that I could optimize what I did in the cockpit to streamline running systems. The A-10C is super systems-heavy, you have to tell it exactly what you want it to do, nothing is 'automatic'. But once I realized there was logic behind all the buttons and sensors and weird switchy-voodoo that you had to do, it really helped out. It just takes time in the plane and not being afraid to really mess up and just start over.

[@figjam5181]

Cool, appreciate the reply. Same with myself. Been using DCS for a few hours now. Can start up and do an ILS appoach and land. I've been learning one thing at a time but was curious as to how long this took you. I've been practising off and on for a few months on and off because of other committments but I would say I've been in the plane for about 15-20 hours and now looking to use the TGP and fire Mavericks. Cheers

[@Rhinozherous]

Very good tutorial, thank you!

[@Kmbtkrl]

Thanks! Glad it helped!

[@dragicmusic8386]

How to zoom with it? What's the key?

[@Kmbtkrl]

with the tgp? i dont know the default keys but if you look up DMS up/down in the controls menu it should tell you the keys. also look up china hat fwd to change field of view modes.

[@andrejsygur]

Zoom is the following keys Home (Zoom in) End (Zoom out) Field of view zoom key is V

[@johnbakelaar9643]

Well done. Thank-you.

[@fmpphoto]

great vid

[@fatwizard1234]

Great job but you forgot to explain how to change to IR settings

[@fatwizard1234]

White hot or black hot

[@Kmbtkrl]

@@fatwizard1234 yeah that was an oversight that has been mentioned. You can use the boat switch on the throttle to switch from CCD to BHOT/WHOT, I dont remember the keyboard defaults though. I think it has something to do with the arrow/cursor keys but I dont remember the modifier.

[@fatwizard1234]

You still did very good you covered 99 out of 100 things so I still give you A+

[@laszlohathazi1733]

ok.. but how the fuck'n hell can slave (to move up, down, right, left) the crosshair over the target?????????

[@Kmbtkrl]

Laszlo Hathazi not sure I understand what you're asking. To slew the TGP (move it around) you have to set it as Sensor of Interest (SOI), and then use the slew controls on your stick to move it. To 'slave' it to a specific target, you have to have a SPI set (watch my SPI tutorial to learn how to do that), and then press the China Hat switch forward (long press >1 sec) to slave all sensors to the SPI. So, theoretically, if you set your SPI on your target, when you slave with 'China hat' your TGP should move to be looking at for target.

[@andrejsygur]

You move the crosshair with : (UP) . (DOWN) , (LEFT) / (RIGHT) Since most people play with the default bindings on the keyboard, China Hat/DMS/TMS/Coolie Hat does not translate any helpful information. And when the video is over 10 minutes long it only adds to the frustration for beginners.